Since the end of the 8th century BC, the god Apollo installed himself in Delphi, having first killed the snake that guarded the oracle. From the whole ancient world, the people came to Delphi, to ask advice of Apollo. It was through the oracle that the people could hear the words of Apollo. The answers of Apollo were communicated by the "pythia" (priesteres) and were interpreted by the priest and these often had a double meaning. King Croesus of Lydie (560-546 BC) asked if he should wage war against Cyrus the Great of Persia and he was told that if he should cross a river, then a great nation would be destroyed. The oracle's prediction was right, but it turned out that it was his own nation that was destroyed.